Book: Read a book that takes place at sea or on a river OR with water on the cover OR where the plot involves a festival or the moon plays a pivotal role in the plot.

 

 

While the titular boat isn't in water on the cover, since it has been washed up on the beach, the ocean is in the background of the cover. I'm using it to claim this square.

 

 

3.5 stars

Sadly, not up to Colbert Report levels of hilarity, at least not in audiobook format.

I Am a Pole (And So Can You!) is a picture book from comedian Stephen Colbert (of the Colbert Report), so it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect it to be.

The cover showcases half-compliment, half-insult quotes from the late Maurice Sendak (whose two-part interview with Stephen Colbert can be seen here andhere). The back cover offers snarky advice to those looking to "learn more about poles". The front flap features a list of fictitious upcoming sequels. The back flap features sarcastic biographies of the author, "blurbist" (Sendak), and illustrator and jokes about the possibility of a Pixar film adaptation. It ends with some Colbert-style nationalism.

The thing to remember, of course, is that this is not by any means a children's picture book. In the vein ofGo the Fuck to Sleep and The Taking Tree: A Selfish Parody (among others, this is primarily a humor book--and definitely for adults. Because unless you're intending to have a talk with Junior about what a stripper is... you really don't want to read this to your toddler.

I'd recommend the book as a (very) quick read to fans of the Colbert Report or adult-oriented picture books in general. I'd suggest viewing the above-linked interview(s) with Maurice Sendak first, however, as I feel they add quite a bit of humor to the book; alone, the book gets--from me at least--a smirk or a chuckle. With the interview?

I set out with the intent of quoting my favorite passages from this book. By the end I realized there was only one: "I am America by Stephen Colbert." What, you ask? I'm saying the whole frickin' thing is quotable!

I Am America is hilarious from start to finish. I snorted, I chortled, I laughed so hard I accidentally drooled. This is everything I hoped it would be. I'm glad I finally got around to it.

My only quibble is a minor, half-serious one. I worry about the people out there who actually take this seriously. "Oh that's ridiculous," you say, "no one's stupid enough to take Colbert seriously." Wrong. When I was writing for newspapers back in the day, I would occasionally do satirical pieces. They were thinly veiled as such. I didn't want anyone mistaking my sentiments for my true feelings. And yet, some people did. I was astounded. It was a real reality check for me. There are still people in the world that take everything they hear at face value. I fear these people and I fear for these people. How is it they haven't all already been accidentally run over by buses?